If it's so impractical......
Why do I miss it so much?
I've established that the fatty isn't better in the cold, or the rain, or carrying a laptop (or any luggage for that matter) yet I've ridden it less than 500 Km since early June. I haven't ridden it at in the last 3 weeks because it's been in at the mechanics. But for some reason I miss it. It reaffirms that i'm a Harley guy.
I think in part the excitement of getting it back with my apes and other bits and pieces fitted has me eager for a Vtwin ride but its also a part of who I am as a rider. I'm a Harley guy. I have no doubt that had the Harley been at my house these past few weeks it probably would have only done a ride or two and maybe the odd commute but it's been cold and wet and the Harley is by no means a winter bike.
Which means it's not so much about the practicality of the bike for day to day use and more about what the bike represents to me as a person and a rider. Despite riding a BMW most days of the week I'm a Harley guy.
I don't see myself as a bike whore because the bikes I own I ride. Once I've done decent miles or they're worn out I then trade or sell and start again. But while I have 2 motos in the garage I'd easily add another 2 if time, money and space permitted. You can safely bet that at least 1 (but lets face it probably both) would be a Harley. I don't sit at my desk buried to the eyeballs in meeting minutes and implementation schedules, resource plans and steerco packs thinking about any old bikes. I think about Harleys.
My only regret in buying my latest Dyna is that I don't get to play around with it enough. The fact that the second gen fatty has introduced certain obstacles that wouldn't have been an issue if I had of started with a first gen fatty like additional cabling for ABS, or wiring requirements for can bus electronics as a start but I digress.
Changing stuff is what makes them the most fun. It means the enjoyment of ownership isn't stymied just because the bike is under a cover in the garage. You can spends all day looking at aftermarket stuff for Harleys. I've picked a bike many times and done a fantasy build in my head, what parts I'd get, how it looks in my mind etc.
Unlike pretty much every other mark Harleys represent a chance to express ones self. Be it via custom one off hand built parts to over the counter mass produced bolt ons. What you end up with is the sum of the combination of things you choose to alter based on what rates in your own play book be it based on coolness of practicality means no two bikes are ever alike.
My Harleys have been the only bikes I've sat in the garage and just looked at. Looked at what I've changed, thought about what I'd still like to change, looked at the scuffs and chips that form the road story. I miss that garage time.
I'm looking forward to the miles ahead with the fatty.
I've established that the fatty isn't better in the cold, or the rain, or carrying a laptop (or any luggage for that matter) yet I've ridden it less than 500 Km since early June. I haven't ridden it at in the last 3 weeks because it's been in at the mechanics. But for some reason I miss it. It reaffirms that i'm a Harley guy.
Which means it's not so much about the practicality of the bike for day to day use and more about what the bike represents to me as a person and a rider. Despite riding a BMW most days of the week I'm a Harley guy.
I don't see myself as a bike whore because the bikes I own I ride. Once I've done decent miles or they're worn out I then trade or sell and start again. But while I have 2 motos in the garage I'd easily add another 2 if time, money and space permitted. You can safely bet that at least 1 (but lets face it probably both) would be a Harley. I don't sit at my desk buried to the eyeballs in meeting minutes and implementation schedules, resource plans and steerco packs thinking about any old bikes. I think about Harleys.
My only regret in buying my latest Dyna is that I don't get to play around with it enough. The fact that the second gen fatty has introduced certain obstacles that wouldn't have been an issue if I had of started with a first gen fatty like additional cabling for ABS, or wiring requirements for can bus electronics as a start but I digress.
Changing stuff is what makes them the most fun. It means the enjoyment of ownership isn't stymied just because the bike is under a cover in the garage. You can spends all day looking at aftermarket stuff for Harleys. I've picked a bike many times and done a fantasy build in my head, what parts I'd get, how it looks in my mind etc.
Unlike pretty much every other mark Harleys represent a chance to express ones self. Be it via custom one off hand built parts to over the counter mass produced bolt ons. What you end up with is the sum of the combination of things you choose to alter based on what rates in your own play book be it based on coolness of practicality means no two bikes are ever alike.
My Harleys have been the only bikes I've sat in the garage and just looked at. Looked at what I've changed, thought about what I'd still like to change, looked at the scuffs and chips that form the road story. I miss that garage time.
I'm looking forward to the miles ahead with the fatty.
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